Box of Buckhead Guidebooks causes bomb scare

A suspicious package that shut down Roswell Road turned out to be a box of Buckhead Guidebooks, the Buckhead Coalition has confirmed.

On April 17, Atlanta Police responded to reports of a suspicious package at the Wells Fargo on Roswell Road around West Wieuca. That prompted the shutdown and police officers subsequently detonated the books. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the road reopened at 2 p.m.

Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell, a former Atlanta mayor, personally apologized for the incident.

“We regret the inconvenience (this) caused individuals and businesses in the area and compliment those in charge of involving appropriate law enforcement management of the situation,” Massell said in a statement.

The books were distributed by PubMan Inc. and the Coalition said the company reported that its delivery man exercised “poor judgment” and left an unsealed, unmarked box of the guidebooks at the bank.

The glossy guidebooks are produced annually by the Coalition and contain statistics, maps and contact info for all things Buckhead. Police officials around the country are on high alert after an unknown person set off bombs at the Boston Marathon on April 15.

Massell attempted to find some humor in the situation.

“Although we treated it seriously at the time, we admit in hindsight we’re pleased some humorist called us praising the ‘wide-spread’ distribution now offered, and the call from the publisher who immediately asked to handle our needs for next year’s edition,” Massell.